It was TequilaCon 2008 — and I had heard of her. I was one of many across the blogosphere who supported a trip for her and her family to visit Walt Disney World. She had never heard of me before.

I introduced myself — and told her that I had featured her in my “List on the 3s” for that day: Things I shouldn’t say at TequilaCon ’08 if I want to be welcome at TequilaCon ’09.

So I told her about this. Within 30 seconds of meeting her. And the Dude.

And her reaction to this madman coming up to her — someone she didn’t know who was throwing Chutzpah in her face about her being selfish about taking her kids to the Happiest Place on Earth? A smile. “You do know why I’m going, right?”

And I told her that I did. And she (and Dude) refrained from punching me. In fact, it was all hugs just a moment later.

Throughout her battles with cancer (and this is a woman who certainly brought a ferocious battle), she didn’t lose her sense of humor, her wit, or her beauty. From day one she reminded me of one of my favorite songs by a favorite artist of mine named Peter Himmelman. He wrote it for a woman he had met who was in the late stages of ALS — but also kept her own sense of self and her sense of humor and perspective on everything. I’ve included that song (and an intro about it) below.

It’s how I will always think of Lisa – a woman who, through this all, had amazing strength and courage.